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BYU Favored to Repeat As Mountain West Conference Champion in Women's Soccer
Utah picked to finish second, followed by San Diego State.
Aug. 16, 2000 Colorado Springs, Colo. BYU was selected as the favorite to capture its second straight conference title in a vote by the league's coaches.
The Cougars received five first-place votes and collected a total of 35 points to capture the top spot in the poll. Utah was picked to place second with 31 points and one first place vote. San Diego State received the final first place vote and a total of 27 points to finish third in the poll. Air Force was chosen fourth with 21 points followed by New Mexico (14), UNLV (13) and Wyoming (6).
BYU, San Diego State and Utah all tied for a share of the 1999 regular-season crown with identical 5-1 league records, but the Cougars won the Inaugural Mountain West Conference Championship with a 2-1 overtime victory vs. San Diego State. BYU compiled a 21-4 overall record in 1999 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Santa Clara. The Cougars return nine letterwinners and seven starters in 2000, including All-MWC first team and NSCAA/Adidas All-America Second Team West Region selection Sara Reading. The senior midfielder/forward led the MWC in goals (17) and total points (39) in '99. Utah's head coach Amy Winslow was selected as the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year last season after the Utes finished with a 13-7 record and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament. Utah welcomes back 14 letterwinners and seven starters, with junior forward/midfielder Amy Kofoed leading the way. Kofoed led the MWC in game-winning goals (6) last season and was an all-conference first-team selection.
The Aztecs finished the 1999 season 15-6 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they fell to the University of San Diego in the first round. Eleven letterwinners and seven starters are back this fall. Air Force (11-10/3-3, 4th MWC) returns 20 letterwinners and 10 starters, including 1999 MWC Freshman of the Year Kari James. New Mexico (6-13-1/1-5 T-5th MWC) has 12 letterwinners back and nine starters, while UNLV (7-11-1/1-5 T-5th MWC) returns eight starters and 11 letterwinners. Wyoming (4-14-1/1-5 T-5th MWC) rounds out the league with the most starters returning at 11, among its 16 letterwinners. Preseason Women¹s Soccer Coaches' Poll Pl. Team (1st Place Votes) Points 1. BYU (5) 35 2. Utah (1) 31 3. San Diego State (1) 27 4. Air Force 21 5. New Mexico 14 6. UNLV 13 7. Wyoming 6
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